The Valentine’s Day dinner not-so-secret secret is that dining out isn’t actually that fun on Valentine’s Day. Restaurants are crowded, and as soon as you sit down, you’re reminded that your table will be needed in 90 minutes. Not only that, but if you stay home and cook on Valentine’s Day, you know the menu will be exactly what you crave! Plus, the bang-for-buck is huge! You can make a rib eye steak at home for about half what it would cost in a restaurant, and you’ll even have leftovers.
I usually keep our Valentine’s Day menu really simple, indulgent and classic! Think steak, crab, hearty salads and of course, a cocktail to sip before the meal. Chocolate desserts are my go-to, but cozy, comfort foods, like a giant, warm cookie or some really good store-bought ice cream can be good, too. The trick to nailing a Valentine’s Day menu is to cook what you and your partner love most, and to be sure that you make something (at least one element of the meal, if not the entire meal) a little out-of-the-box. It’s Valentine’s Day, not some random Tuesday! So make sure to pick things you don’t eat all the time. My last tip for a truly romantic Valentine’s Day dinner? Call in all your favors and see if grandma and grandpa will take the kids tonight.
Here are all the recipes I’m eyeing this year for Valentine’s Day:
Spicy Margarita
If you really want to set the mood as “grown-ups only,” a spicy cocktail will do the job! This spicy marg is as easy to whip up as it is to drink.
French 75
Fizzy and airy and not overly boozy, this fun classic cocktail is a great way to start the evening on a high note! The *pop* of a bottle of bubbles is a sure sign of a good time.
Old Fashioned
If you're new to mixing cocktails, the Old Fashioned is a great place to start. Just a few ingredients, and a quick swizzle, and you’ve got yourself a seriously easy cocktail recipe that’s (bonus!) almost impossible to mess up.
Paper Plane
If your Valentine is super into food and cocktails, make them a Paper Plane. It's a classic drink, but it still manages to feel like a little surprise. Bittersweet and herbal, with a little zing, it's sophisticated and so good.
Classic Wedge Salad
Crisp iceberg and the best darn blue cheese dressing ever, this one never fails to win raves. It goes so well with any of the steak OR shrimp recipes below, too.
Pear and Burrata Crostini
A little restauranty and let’s face it, a lot sexy, these perfect little bits are creamy and lush, with a lightness that won’t ruin your appetite.
The Kale Salad
A lemony Parmesan dressing and a dusting of crisp panko make this vibrant salad anything but boring. But the best thing about including it in a Valentine's dinner menu is that you can make it a few hours ahead of time.
Steak Frites
Paris is the epicenter of romance, and nothing takes me to a cozy, candle-lit bistro in Paris (in my head) like whipping up steak frites. If you want a one-and-done Valentine’s day menu, look no further. Make this recipe, open a bottle of wine, and your menu is done.
Rolled Flank Steak
This is anything but your average steak! It’s a stunning Valentine’s Day main that says “I went the extra mile for you.” Stuffed with oozy cheese and mushrooms, flank steak never tasted so good!
Grilled Rib Eye Steak with Italian Salsa Verde
This grilled rib eye is a splurge any which way you slice it. And when you shell out your hard-earned money for a fancy cut of steak, you want to be sure that you cook it perfectly. this recipe walks you through a no-fail way to cook it.
Cacio E Pepe
This creamy Roman pasta is an iconic celebration of pecorino romano (the “cacio”) and fruity, spicy, freshly ground black pepper (the “pepe”). It’s simple and sort of thrilling, despite the short ingredient list.
Pasta Carbonara
Time-tested, quick and decadent, what could be more romantic than twirling your forks into one big bowl of rich, creamy carbonara?
Shrimp Scampi En Papillote
Baked in little parchment packets, this elegant shrimp supper is a one pan meal that looks like something you’d order in a majorly white-tablecloth restaurant. But it’s easy, and can be prepped a bit ahead of time so that you, can actually relax and enjoy the meal, too.
Shrimp Louie
If you love shrimp, this light, elegant dinner can’t be missed. A big salad loaded with shrimp and avocado, topped with a creamy-spicy dressing, shrimp louie is a hearty, splurge-y classic steak house salad that won’t leave you feeling stuffed.
Easy Tiramisu
Creamy, coffee-laced and cocoa-dusted, this super easy tiramisu recipe is pared down (no eggs, and no booze!) perfection, and is my absolute favorite make-ahead desserts ever.
Olive Oil Cake
Moist and tender, this lemony olive oil cake tastes like the Italian riviera of my most sun-soaked dreams.
Classic Fudgy Brownies
Go ahead and double the recipe now, because these perfectly fudgy, moist in the middle, crisp in the corner brownies freeze well so you can scratch that chocolate-craving itch whenever it hits. Also if you make them now, it’s one less thing to do on Valentine’s Day!
